Yashoda Barapatre (55) and her friends from Dattatreya Nagar regularly go for an evening walk in Vivekananda garden. However, for the past one month they have been returning home before dark. In fact, no woman in the locality steps out after dark and police officers patrol the streets in plain clothes.
The precautions are being taken following a series of stabbing attacks on women by an unidentified motorcyle-borne man. Since January 3 this year, six cases have been registered in Sakkaradhara, Nandnavan and Ajani police stations.
Swinging into action
R.R. Kapgate, ACP, Sakkardhara Zone, said, “All six attacks are identical in nature. The assailant’s intention is not to kill but wound women. No one has been arrested till now.” The first of the six attacks was on 30-year-old Sneha Nagarmote in Reshimbag by a person wearing a red helmet and riding a black bike. The police then considered the incident a result of a “quarrel, personal enmity or an attempt to rob”. However, they swung into action once two similar cases were reported on January 19.
ACP Kapgate said, “Manorama Godbole, 55, was attacked at 7 p.m. in Khanjogenagar and Premlata Bhoyar was attacked 10 p.m. metres from her home in Bidipeth.” Ms. Bhoyar, “The attacker did not snatch my ornaments. He attacked me and ran away. I could not see his face as the street lights were not working that night.”
The fourth attack took place on January 22. Jui Hedau, 19, was walking with her mother in front of her house at around 9.30 p.m. in Dattatreya Nagar, when the attacker wearing a helmet and riding a black scooter slashed Jui’s hand. She needed 13 stitches.
The fifth and sixth attacks were on Chandrakala Dehne in Reshimbag and Shobha Thakur in Hanuman Nagar. “I get scared whenever any helmet-wearing man on bike crosses me on the street,” said Lina Sakharkar, a resident of Balaji Nagar.
Growing suspicion
Sheshrao Hud, Ms. Boyar’s neighbour, says, “We make sure men from the family accompany us when we go out. Every stranger is being looked at with suspicion.” Ankita Sahu, from Bidipeth, says, “We don’t feel safe even in front of our own house. The police should increase vigil and catch the attacker as soon as possible. The police should ban the use of helmets and scarves until he is caught.”
An officer said, “About 200 policemen and lady constables have been deployed in every garden in Reshimbag, Ajani, Hudkeshwar and Nandanvan. Our top priority is to catch him, but it is difficult as he is operating on his own. He seems to have some psychological issues.
‘Rumours on the rise’
“The rumours are also making our work difficult as every single stabbing attack is being linked to the assailant. He comes on black Activa or Pulsar 220. The number plates of the vehicles are hidden with a scarf. He moves so quickly that none of the six victims could see him properly. Everyone, including the DCP is patrolling the area. The duration of our regular duty has been increased by one hour.”
The Crime Branch of Nagpur police has issued a sketch of the suspect.
